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Friday, March 29, 2024

Fireworks

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Today we commemorate the martyrdom of Jose P. Rizal, the national hero we proclaimed during the American colonial period.  There have been ongoing debates in academe and the public mind as to who rightfully should be our national hero, and invariably, these center on whether it should be Rizal or Bonifacio, the pacifist versus the warrior, the reformist versus the revolutionary.

I shall not delve on that matter.  I just wonder why we always commemorate the death rather than the birth of our great men. Commemorating death rather than celebrate the beginning of life.  Does this have to do with our Christian tradition which emphasizes the resurrection of the Christ, after his death on the cross?  Easter is the happiest feast in Christendom, yet we celebrate Christmas Day in our practices and tradition as our happiest feast.

Why not Rizal Day on June 19, when he was born?  Likewise Ninoy Aquino on Nov. 27 instead of his assassination on Aug. 21?  Or why celebrate defeat at the hands of the Japanese through the Fall of Bataan on April 9, instead of the Liberation of Manila?  

Debates such as these ought to be resolved, the better to foster what everybody concedes to be a lack of nationalism and a sense of nationhood among us, particularly among the younger generation.  Which also makes me wonder why we have relegated culture as mandates of the Department of Education through syllabi and textbooks, and to the Department of Tourism as anchor (at times) to tourism promotion.

In most other countries, particularly in Europe, there is a Ministry of Culture and History.  In the Philippines there is none.  Rather we have a sprinkling of low-budgeted, oft-forgotten sprinkling of agencies such as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Historical Institute, the National Museum, Cultural Center (which materialized only after former First Lady Imelda Marcos built the center for the performing arts), and others.

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The other topic I will discuss here is the matter of fireworks, particularly the noise, gore and self-inflicted mayhem that accompanies our celebration of New Year’s Eve.

I once asked Mayor Rodrigo Duterte regarding his ban on firecrackers and fireworks in the city regarded as one of the safest in the world.

His reply:  “Why should revelry be noisy?  What about children, particularly infants, whose sleep will be disturbed by the noise?  And people whose nostrils will be assailed by the smell of gunpowder ingredients, let alone the noise?  Must their rights be transgressed by the many who just insist on their brand of merry-making?  And finally, what about the injuries, even deaths, that firecrackers cause, particularly on New Year’s Eve?  Why must public hospitals funded by people’s money be burdened by treating victims of their self-inflicted injury and mayhem?”  (I translate from memory a conversation done in Bisaya).

To which I asked, but why not ban firecrackers, and not fireworks, like the “luces” (lusis) or “kwitis”?

The answer was classic Duterte:  “When we were passing the ordinance banning pyrotechnics in the council, that issue was raised.  Paputok ipagbawal, pero mga kwitis at lusis, payagan.”  But upon further study, Duterte added, it would be unequal treatment.

“The poor can only buy firecrackers because these are cheap.  I realized that only the rich can afford Roman candles and “kwitis,” so I asked the council to ban all pyrotechnics.  We cannot have a law that the poor will find as a curtailment of their privilege, while knowingly allow the rich their affordable privileges.”

Not only does the Duterte reasoning make sense.  It also mirrors his obsession towards equal opportunity, equal privilege, equal rights.

Indeed, beneath the veneer of toughness expressed in words and in deeds, the Davao City mayor impresses most because of his innate compassion for the poor and underprivileged, and his vision of elevating their conditions in life.

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I do look forward to a New Year’s Eve in 2016 where noise comes from paper horns, and the usual videoke music contests, not to firecrackers of whatever kind.

Instead, and in fairness to the Bocaue pyrotechnic makers and their employees, maybe each municipality or city could sponsor, or allow private companies to sponsor pyrotechnic displays for public delectation at designated “safe” places.  I recall a Fourth of July experience in the Big Apple, where Macy’s (the department store) traditionally sponsors the pyrotechnic display in the Hudson River.

Manila, Pasay, Makati, Parañaque and Las Piñas could sponsor a big New Year’s Eve display in Manila Bay.  Quezon City could do it in the Quezon Memorial Circle.  San Juan, Mandaluyong, Marikina and Pasig can do it in the Pasig River.  Caloocan, Navotas, Malabon and Valenzuela in the mouth of the tributaries that lead to Manila Bay.

Whatever, a Happy New Year to all!

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